Portal:India/Quiz/Archive17

[edit] Questions

[edit] Q1

Connect the following years: 1884, 1888, 1897, 1894, 1905, 1913, 1916, 1910, 1918, 1921, 1931. --Natrajdr 16:38, 29 December 2006 (UTC)

Birth years of Indian Presidents, in order of their tenure. -- Longhairandabeard 18:11, 29 December 2006 (UTC)

::Partially correct. Want to try again? --Natrajdr 19:53, 29 December 2006 (UTC) You get it Longhairandabeard --Natrajdr 21:54, 29 December 2006 (UTC)

Great! Next q in a couple of hours.. -- Longhairandabeard 23:38, 29 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Q2

Oops took more than two hours! Here's the question. Connect: father, mother, mind, thoughts, anger and truth. -- Longhairandabeard 07:06, 30 December 2006 (UTC)

Dhammapada?? Come to think of it any religious scripture would fit the bill. Clues?? --Natrajdr 08:47, 30 December 2006 (UTC)

No, it has to be more specific than just mention of those words. Hint: Think mythology. In fact, this question came about once I realized the whole of last round went by without a mythology question! -- Longhairandabeard 19:24, 30 December 2006 (UTC)

Another hint: They are involved in the killing and revival of four mythological characters. -- Longhairandabeard 02:24, 31 December 2006 (UTC)

The killing and revival of four characters sounds like the Pandavas. I am going to guess that these are the answers to Dharma's questions to Yudisthira in some version (that I have not yet found). --BostonMA ^talk 02:28, 31 December 2006 (UTC)

Yup, sounds right. These are the questions that Dharma in the form of a Yaksha asks Yudhistira. The questions for the above answers, in the same order, are - Who/What is loftier than the skies? greater than the earth? faster than the wind? X? Y? can compare with the brightness of the Sun? [1] Can someone fill the blanks? Various versions of this story abound, btw. --Gurubrahma 08:00, 31 December 2006 (UTC)

Sorry guys, didn't mean to drag this question so long. BostonMA is right. These are the answers Yudhishthira gave for the Yaksha Prashnas. X= What is more numerous than grass? and Y= What, if renounced, leads to no regret? My sources: [2]and [3], but also check out the Stanford dudes. -- Longhairandabeard 20:36, 31 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Q3

I am a little short on imagination at the moment. Usually, a cook tries to avoid this when cooking, but soon many people will be doing it on purpose, though not throughout India. Usually, it might be considered a sign of impatience for a visitor to ask this question, but soon many visitors will be asking this question, though not throughout India. Of what things am I thinking? --BostonMA ^talk 02:21, 1 January 2007 (UTC)

hint?? Nadesai 12:43, 1 January 2007 (UTC)

The question is associated with a time of cleaning out one's house and replacing the old with the new. However it is a time for this only for a certain people. Not an all-India event. --BostonMA ^talk 13:33, 1 January 2007 (UTC)

Pongal-o-Pongal! --ti 19:02, 1 January 2007 (UTC)

Tejas gets it. Usually a cook tries to avoid food boiling over. Usually it is considered impatient of a visitor to ask about the rice is it boiled yet. Very good. --BostonMA ^talk 19:05, 1 January 2007 (UTC)

Thanks BostonMA! Next qn follows. --ti 20:15, 1 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Q4

Connect Madonna the singer, a famous Russian chemist and a 19th century German mathematician. Full point for all 3 connects. --ti 20:15, 1 January 2007 (UTC)

Is this related to India? --BostonMA ^talk 21:43, 1 January 2007 (UTC)

Here is a guess: The persons are Madonna (given), the famous Russian Chemist and developer of the Periodic table Dmitri Mendeleev, and the 19th century German mathematician Emanuel Lasker and the connection is that they all play/played chess (which traces its origin the Indian game of Chaturanga - which would be the PINQ connection).

Madonna and Mendeleev are listed as chess players here and Lasker was a World Chess Championship. Other possibilities for 19th century German chess-playing mathematicians include Albert Einstein who played a game against Robert Oppenheimer [4] ! Close ? Abecedare 21:54, 1 January 2007 (UTC)

BostonMA, it certainly is related to India. Abecedare, that is a very nice attempt but not what I am looking for. The chemist indeed is Mendeleev, but the mathematician is someone else. He did math for much of his life, but turned to working in an Indian-related field when he did not get much recognition for his mathematical achievements (he is quite famous though in math too). --ti 23:10, 1 January 2007 (UTC)

Oh shucks ! After had built that enormous and delicately balanced edifice ... :-)

(but to be honest, I too doubted my answer mainly because I didn't think you would have chosen Lasker as the third person, when you had so many other choices) Anyway, the quest continues ! Abecedare 23:20, 1 January 2007 (UTC)

By the way, did you really mean to write "Indian- related field", or is that a hint ? Abecedare 23:22, 1 January 2007 (UTC)

Indian, India, all the same. The place to start would be one of Madonna's songs. --ti 23:36, 1 January 2007 (UTC)

Time for another hint: Mendeleev is known for his periodic table, but more specifically for the "missing elements" he predicted from his table. What are these elements? --ti 06:47, 2 January 2007 (UTC)

Sanskrit?? Madonna's recordings 'Shanti/Ashtangi' & 'Cyber-raga'; Dmitri Mendeleev, who uses the Sanskrit words eka-, dvi-, and tri- for undiscovered elements in his periodic table and Hermann Günther Grassmann, German Mathematican and Sanskrit scholar. --Natrajdr 11:33, 2 January 2007 (UTC)

Natrajdr cracks it, well done. See Mendeleev's predicted elements and Sanskrit in the West for more detail. --ti 16:57, 2 January 2007 (UTC)

Thanks! I too used the same Wikipedia articles mentioned above to get to my answer :) Next Q within 4 Hrs --Natrajdr 02:36, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Q5

One for the movie buffs... Connect a Coppola to Mani Ratnam --Natrajdr 06:19, 3 January 2007 (UTC) Clue - Think music!! --Natrajdr 07:29, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

I assume you are referring to this scene from the Lord of War starring Nicholas Cage (born Nicholas Coppola), which uses the theme music from the movie Bombay directed by Mani Ratnam. Right ? Nicely phrased question Abecedare 08:00, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

Absolutely !! I saw the movie recently in Star Movies and was surprised to hear Rehman's music used. Over to you ! --Natrajdr 08:17, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

Yes, the music is an unexpected surprise. Next question coming up. Abecedare 15:49, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Q6

What connects yoga, photography of India, and fusing of Silicon ? If it helps, you can also relate the three to Jupiter ... Abecedare 15:57, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

Hint: To be exact, the photography was multi-spectral imaging aimed at studying generation of hydro-electric power in the Himalayas. Abecedare 21:49, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

Rakesh Sharma While a Squadron Leader he was involved in multi spectral photography in the Himalayas anticipating construction of Hydro Electric projects [5]. He also practiced zero-gravity yoga aboard Salyut 7 whose call sign was Jupiter (Yupiter) [6]. I'm still working on the Silicon bit --Natrajdr 04:46, 4 January 2007 (UTC)

Righto ! The three listed items were among the tasks undertaken on the Soyuz T-11 mission (call sign Jupiter) with Rakesh Sharma. The last Silicon (Silicium) bit is listed here.

The baton is back in your hands. Abecedare 05:01, 4 January 2007 (UTC)

Yeeeeeeeeeeeehaawwwww!! Am at work now... Next question would be within 8 hours --Natrajdr 06:24, 4 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Q7

Identify the series: Uttar Pradesh > Tamil Nadu > West Bengal > Maharashtra > Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat... --Natrajdr 10:51, 4 January 2007 (UTC)

a weird guess nu ber of layers playing in indian team region wise Neoindia 18:04, 4 January 2007 (UTC)

I guess I'll make it a little more simpler - Uttar Pradesh = 9; Tamil Nadu = 8; West Bengal = 7; Maharashtra = 6; Andhra Pradesh = Gujarat = 2; Karnataka = Bihar = New Delhi = Punjab = Assam = South Africa = Pakistan =1. --Natrajdr 05:29, 5 January 2007 (UTC)

Number of Bharat Ratna awardees? --ti 07:01, 5 January 2007 (UTC)

Right on ti! Over to you --Natrajdr 07:47, 5 January 2007 (UTC)

wow, didnt check back to see if i was right. next question coming up in an hour. --ti 17:24, 5 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Q8

What is it these four different people have in common?

• A was one of the first to popularize yoga in the west.
• B obtained a chaired professorship and multiple awards in a field he did not receive a degree in.
• C died by drowning, but supernatural legend has it he guided his comrades to retrieve his body.
• D recently accused of religious blasphemy in reference to alcohol.

--ti 18:27, 5 January 2007 (UTC)

wow, first time my question lasted over 10 minutes. :-) here's a hint: D is likely the most famous of them all, the blasphemy he had committed was not consumption of alcohol, but an alcohol-related advertisement in which he appeared. --ti 21:44, 5 January 2007 (UTC)

another hint: C fought in the 1962 Indo-China War. --ti 23:51, 5 January 2007 (UTC)

The first name Harbhajan apart from the Singh appellation is common. A is Harbhajan Singh Yogi; B is Dr. Harbhajan Singh; C is Baba Harbhajan Singh and D is cricketer Harbhajan Singh. I got this because I remembered that a question on C was asked before; see archive 6. --Gurubrahma 03:49, 6 January 2007 (UTC)

see, now i didnt know that! take it away guru.. --ti 04:39, 6 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Q9

This can't be googled but can be got with some disciplined imagination. Connect Alfred Russel Wallace to Godavari river. There are three intermediary connects and it may be easier if you start in the reverse order, i.e. from the river. --Gurubrahma 06:37, 6 January 2007 (UTC)

Ecozone ?? Nadesai 07:11, 6 January 2007 (UTC)

I've got a guess: Alfred Russel Wallace → Charles Darwin → Elizabeth Hope → Arthur Cotton → Godavari river. Picaroon 07:19, 6 January 2007 (UTC)

Arthur Cotton constructed a barrage on Godavari. His daughter, Lady Hope, claimed that Darwin had recanted his views on evolution before death. And as you would know, Darwin and Wallace had the same views on evolution. Perfectly linked, Sir! I'm definite that Picaroon got it without recourse to this, because it gives different paths both the sides. The baton passes to him (pl. remember that the questions must have something to do with India). --Gurubrahma 07:43, 6 January 2007 (UTC)

Interesting - I don't think I've heard of that tool before. I did it the old-fashioned way - wikilinks. Picaroon 08:26, 6 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Q10

Another connection question: Battle of the Hydaspes River ←→ a person ←→ a place ←→ a book ←→ Lawrence Durrell? Your goal is to fill in the blanks. The six degrees tool up there won't get you the answer. Picaroon 08:26, 6 January 2007 (UTC)

Battle of the Hydaspes River ←→ Alexander the Great ←→ Alexandria ←→ The Alexandria Quartet ←→ Lawrence Durrell Nadesai 11:54, 6 January 2007 (UTC)

While I was, in fact, thinking of a specific novel, I now realize there is absolutely no way for anyone not inside my head to know which one, so The Alexandria Quartet is acceptable for the last spot. Anyways, good job - the baton is yours. Picaroon 17:54, 6 January 2007 (UTC)

Posting question soon. Nadesai 10:18, 7 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Q11

In movie Mr. & Mrs. '55, Guru Dutt was cartoonist. Who actually drew cartoons?

This question has been asked and answered before. So do you want to ask a different one ? Abecedare 11:42, 7 January 2007 (UTC)

Actually I still am not sure whether the correct answer in Bal Thackeray or R.K. Laxman. Does anyone have a reliable source for this one ? Abecedare 11:47, 7 January 2007 (UTC)

Its R.K. Laxman [7]. --hydkat 13:13, 7 January 2007 (UTC)

As this has been asked before I am changing question. New Question Coming soon. Nadesai 18:18, 7 January 2007 (UTC)

In a particular match against a team in Ranji Trophy, Sunil Gavaskar did an unusual thing. What did he do and why he did that? Nadesai 18:19, 7 January 2007 (UTC)

He batted left-handed against Karnataka because Raghuram Bhat was exploiting a patch on the right-hander's legstump. [8] --ti 20:02, 7 January 2007 (UTC)

That's right ti, over to you now... Nadesai 20:24, 7 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Q12

Reasonable sitter. According to legend, this personage was engaged to a young princess. He realised that his old body would not suit his married life, and so physicians prepared X for him, which is named after him. What is X? --ti 01:45, 8 January 2007 (UTC)

Chyawanprash?[9] -- Longhairandabeard 03:22, 8 January 2007 (UTC)

LHAB is bang on! good reference too. do you have more mythology/history tidbits about Rishi Chyavana? --ti 04:37, 8 January 2007 (UTC)

Not much, but Sukanya has a more detailed story. -- Longhairandabeard 15:58, 8 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Q13

Another mythology question. Connect Damayanti, Gandhari and Kumbhakarna. -- Longhairandabeard 15:58, 8 January 2007 (UTC)

Time for a hint.. Think close relatives.. -- Longhairandabeard 21:33, 8 January 2007 (UTC)

anything to do with the Guardians_of_the_directions? --ti 00:26, 9 January 2007 (UTC) more specifically, Kubera was Kumbhakarna's brother, and he guarded the North. --ti 00:46, 9 January 2007 (UTC)

Nope. This is a little obscure, I must say. Maybe this will make it easier: another character that shares the same connection is Ghatotkacha. -- Longhairandabeard 02:05, 9 January 2007 (UTC)

after much searching, is it the almost identical names: Damayanti had a son Indrasen and daughter Indrasena. Kumbhakarna had sons Kumbha and Nikumbha. Ghatotkacha's mom was Hidimbi whose brother was Hidimba. And as for Gandhari ... maybe her dad was Gandhar?--ti 03:21, 9 January 2007 (UTC)

They had close relatives with expertise/obsession with gambling. Damayanti wife of Nala; Gandhari sister to Shakuni; Ghatotkacha nephew of Yudhishtira (stretch); Kumbhakarna ... dreamt of gambling ? Abecedare 03:38, 9 January 2007 (UTC)

Both great guesses (esp the link for Kumbhakarna :-D ).. But no.. The answer is more direct than either of the guesses, and closer to ti's answer, if that helps. If not, giveaway clue in a couple of hours. -- Longhairandabeard 03:45, 9 January 2007 (UTC)

Another pure guess (I haven't actually checked this out): did they all have twins as progeny ? Abecedare 04:08, 9 January 2007 (UTC)

thought of that, but i couldnt find twins born of Ghatotkacha atleast. maybe LHAB left the most famous twins out of the equation? --ti 04:11, 9 January 2007 (UTC)

Nope, twins are not it either. Giveaway clue: Think of a tributary of Krishna. And as I said before, all the links (except for Ghatotkacha) are somewhat obscure, yet quite direct in a way. (To get full credit, you have to solve all four connections).. -- Longhairandabeard 06:22, 9 January 2007 (UTC)

Thinking out loud... Damayanti is from Vidarbha; Gandhari is from present day Kandhahar; Kumbhakarna is from present day Sri Lanka and Ghatotkacha is belived by historian's to be from Assam -- They are from the frontier provinces of Ancient India. I'm still thinking how will Vidharbha fit into the picture. Also, I'm unable to link the Krishna River clue given ! :( --Natrajdr 11:07, 9 January 2007 (UTC)

Hmmm.. This question has taken more time than it's probably worth. Think on the lines of Q8 above, and you'll get there. -- Longhairandabeard 16:49, 9 January 2007 (UTC)

is it Bhima? he was the father of ghatotkacha, and King Bhima of Vidarbha was the father of Damayanti. also Kumbhakarna had a demon son named Bhima, who tried to avenge his father's death but was killed by Shiva at Bhimashankar [10]. cant figure out the Gandhari connection yet. --ti 17:34, 9 January 2007 (UTC)

Yup, I'll give it to you. For Gandhari, three of the Kauravas were named Bheemavega, Bheemabalaa and Bheemaradha. [11] Your turn... -- Longhairandabeard 18:21, 9 January 2007 (UTC)

give me a couple of hours to come up with a question. in the mean while, you can redirect 100 entries to Kauravas if you wish! ;-) --ti 19:57, 9 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Q14

Who is this fictional character? Born in 1954 with a lock of hair perpetually covering his right eye, he was hugely identified with in rural India. His character was downsized vastly in 2002. --ti 22:50, 9 January 2007 (UTC)

Gattu. [12]. Though I thought he was popular Pan-India. --Gurubrahma 05:36, 10 January 2007 (UTC)

Gattu, the mascot of Asian Paints created by R. K. Laxman, is correct. He struck a chord with rural markets and small towns due to his "common man" image [13] [14]. Infact, my next hint would have been the brother(?) of the "common man". Asian Paints apparently is in the top ten paint companies in the world, with 30% of the Indian market share. Maybe it and Nerolac Paints deserve some blue-linking. --ti 06:23, 10 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Q15

Sorry for the delay. A sitter. A soft drink was launched after Janata Party government came to power at centre. What was its name and what is the rationale for the name? --Gurubrahma 05:03, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

Double Seven? The year of the great soft drink expulsion = 1977 -- Samir धर्म 05:29, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

Yes Samir, indeed. Take it away. --Gurubrahma 06:08, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Q16

Another sitter. What do Lebanon, South Korea, Bangladesh, Singapore, The Netherlands and Japan have in common? -- Samir धर्म 22:57, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

They are all in Eurasia; the second letter in their name is a vowel (ignoring the article from The Netherlands) ? Just kidding, of course! I know there is meant to be a India related link. :-) Abecedare 23:30, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

If India played any one of them in cricket, they would probably win. :) Nobleeagle ^[TALK] [C] 23:39, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

Are you sure? :D Cribananda 16:48, 12 January 2007 (UTC)

their capital cities might be submerged by global warming? --ti 01:14, 12 January 2007 (UTC)

No, all fun guesses though. Here are some countries not on the list: United States, Canada, Australia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Guyana -- Samir धर्म 01:25, 12 January 2007 (UTC)

(edit conflict) Damn, I was going to say that India is bigger than all of them in terms of area and population :-) Gizza^{Chat ©} 01:26, 12 January 2007 (UTC)

Maybe, the countries mentioned have different local names to the names they are called in English (like India) and the other countries refer to themselves with the same names as others refer to them with. Nobleeagle ^[TALK] [C] 04:04, 12 January 2007 (UTC)

Can't be. Russia's called Росси́я (Rossiya). Gizza^{Chat ©} 04:50, 12 January 2007 (UTC)

higher population density than india? --ti 05:35, 12 January 2007 (UTC)

Correct! See List of countries by population density for the thirty countries more densely populated by India. Interesting observation by ti also on the submergement by global warming though. Baton to you, ti -- Samir धर्म 02:47, 13 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Q17

here's an easy (or atleast easily stated) question, havent checked if it is googlable. which is india's northernmost military base? --ti 06:47, 13 January 2007 (UTC)

Almost a wild guess, Tajikistan? Gizza^{Chat ©} 07:08, 13 January 2007 (UTC)

Farkhor Air Base in Tajikistan. I had created the article and submitted it for WP:DYK =Nichalp «Talk»= 11:57, 13 January 2007 (UTC)

Kilik Pass or Siachen Glacier depending upon you believe India or Pakistan is northern most point of India, so I think Northern most military base must be Siachen Glacier. Is it?? Nadesai 12:00, 13 January 2007 (UTC)

Nichalp gets it, well done! --ti 15:49, 13 January 2007 (UTC)

I think DaGizza had it first with Tajikistan. I'm ready with a question though. =Nichalp «Talk»= 16:17, 13 January 2007 (UTC)

well, i was really looking for Farkhor itself. but on second thoughts, he would not have answered Tajikistan on a whim. So Gizza and Nichalp get half a point each, and Nichalp can ask the next question. --ti 17:20, 13 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Q18

Hope this is not so easy. Two stations exist at one location. Name them. =Nichalp «Talk»= 18:15, 13 January 2007 (UTC)

What exactly do you mean by station? Railway station?? 125.22.44.74 18:58, 13 January 2007 (UTC)

Dadar, Western Railways and Dadar, Central Railway in Mumbai? --ti 19:02, 13 January 2007 (UTC)

Well, Mahim, Bandra and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus also serve multiple lines ... Abecedare 19:27, 13 January 2007 (UTC)

Yeah, railway station. Sorry, Dadar has the same name for both lines. =Nichalp «Talk»= 08:00, 14 January 2007 (UTC)

Well Nichalp, isnt this a too 'localised' question? Amey Aryan DaBrood^© 09:11, 14 January 2007 (UTC)

Depends what you mean by localised. It's to do with the Indian Railways. BTW the question has still to be answered. =Nichalp «Talk»= 09:25, 14 January 2007 (UTC)

Chennai Central & Park Town, Chennai?? --Natrajdr 09:30, 14 January 2007 (UTC)

No. =Nichalp «Talk»= 09:40, 14 January 2007 (UTC)

Clue the stations face each other across the track. =Nichalp «Talk»= 13:04, 14 January 2007 (UTC)

Got it! Srirampur (Maharashtra) and Belapur of Central Railway in Maharashtra. Very interesting page this. -- Longhairandabeard 04:12, 15 January 2007 (UTC)

Correct! Longhairandabeard gets it correct. And that was my source too. :) =Nichalp «Talk»= 04:36, 15 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Q19

Thanks Nichalp! Hopefully this one will be easier than my other questions in this round. This project was undertaken for the benefit of several thousands. It needed the efforts of three successive generations. The third generation was finally successful and those efforts have now become proverbial. What project? -- Longhairandabeard 04:56, 15 January 2007 (UTC)

Here's a hint before I go to sleep.. There were several obstacles barring the success of this project, as is usual with big projects. Curiously, hair and ear were intimately involved in removing those obstacles. -- Longhairandabeard 06:53, 15 January 2007 (UTC)

Hmmm.. I guess I just can't give up the temptation to cryptify even the simplest questions. Hopefully this would simplify matters: Hair were involved in slowing down things (a fast pace would have been catastrophic), and this incident is depicted in all images of the owner of those hair. Oops.. cryptic again. I promise the next clue will be straightforward. :-D -- Longhairandabeard 17:29, 15 January 2007 (UTC)

is the project related to bringing some animal out of extinction, like Project Tiger? --ti 20:32, 15 January 2007 (UTC)

Bhagiratha's bringing down of Ganges?--Dwaipayan (talk) 20:42, 15 January 2007 (UTC)

Yup, Dwaipayan's got it. Ganga was asked to descend from heavens to allow the salvation of Sagar's 6,000 sons. Anshuman, Dilip and Bhagirath tried and Bhagirath was at last succesful through his unceasing efforts, inspiring the term 'Bhagirath prayatna'. There was apprehension that too rapid descent of the Ganga would break the earth, and therefore, Shiva agreed to tangle her in his hair, and released only a small stream. Once on the earth, Ganga offended Rishi Jahnu, who drank all her waters, and later released her through his ear. -- Longhairandabeard 20:59, 15 January 2007 (UTC)

Ooops! I forgot to check. A bit busy right now. Next question in 6–7 hours. Sorry folks.--Dwaipayan (talk) 07:35, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Q20

He committed some sins and got his name. However, he is not as famous for his sins as he is for his ultimate fate. Caught in a tug of war between gods and sages, he landed up in a unique situation. Who am I talking about?--Dwaipayan (talk) 12:29, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

Shiva. — Nearly Headless Nick 12:33, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

Well, Shiva is not what I am looking for. However, please explain your answer. Maybe your explanation is correct!--Dwaipayan (talk) 12:53, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

Neelkanth. Shiva = Neelkanth = Ultimate fate. He is the god of death/kaal. I missed the bit about gods and sages and presumed to be a battle between demigods and asuras, where he drank the poison that the sea emnated. D-uh. — Nearly Headless Nick 12:58, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

Narada?? --Natrajdr 14:14, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

it has to be one of those characters who is "still roaming on the earth today", isnt it?... --ti 14:51, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

I am surprised that this has not been answered yet. It is Trishanku. I believe it is correct but I'd not be in a position to ask the next. Dwaipayan, can you ask the next too? TIA, --Gurubrahma 15:15, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

Yes it is Trishanku. But Guruji has left me with an even more tough job, asking the next one :( --Dwaipayan (talk) 15:31, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

Thanks Nick, for asking the next Q :)--Dwaipayan (talk) 15:32, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Q21

This is the first time I am asking a question on this portal, so pardon me for jumping in. :P Question is: Gandhiji, allegedly fell in love with a woman while staying at her house in Lahore in his fifties. She was someone other than his wife, or so writes the person who is committed to writing his biography. — Nearly Headless Nick 15:28, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

Saraladevi Chaudhury--Dwaipayan (talk) 15:33, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

i second that, having confirmed the answer a minute later! :) --ti 15:35, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

infact i find many references listing her as Saraladevi Chaudhurani, so maybe that should be the right red link to work on. --ti 15:51, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

Dudes, you ruined everything. See Rajmohan Gandhi as well. Cheers! — Nearly Headless Nick 10:25, 17 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Q22

Easy one. He could have joined Kauravas in Kurukshetra war, but thanks to Krishna's plans, he could not. Finally he just had to be satisfied with watching the war rather than participating. Who is he? --Dwaipayan (talk) 16:44, 17 January 2007 (UTC)

That would be Barbarika, son of Ghatotkacha, now worshipped as Shyam Baba in Western India. -- Longhairandabeard 17:24, 17 January 2007 (UTC)

LHAB got it.--Dwaipayan (talk) 18:20, 17 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Q23

Another easy one. Connect hepatitis and dengue, hydrogel, and Polytherics. -- Longhairandabeard 19:08, 17 January 2007 (UTC)

Sunil Shaunak, professor of infectious diseases at Imperial College, co-founder of Polytherics, researching on "Ethical pharmaceuticals" drugs for hepatitis (probably hepatitis C) and dengue. Polytherics products include hydrogel.--Dwaipayan (talk) 19:33, 17 January 2007 (UTC)

You are close with one of the links, but not what I am looking for. And I couldn't find any link of Polytherics with dengue or hydrogel. -- Longhairandabeard 20:24, 17 January 2007 (UTC)

Well, Polytherics makes PEG, used to make PEGylated Interferons (eg Pegylated interferon-alpha-2a), the Rx of chronic HepC. Again, PEG precipitation is probably needed in some stage of Dengue virus identification, probably in RTPCR.--Dwaipayan (talk) 20:39, 17 January 2007 (UTC)

is it Shantha Biotech? they have a tech transfer pact with Polytherics to license Polytherase for hepatitis (and dengue?) treatment.. [15] --ti 03:00, 18 January 2007 (UTC)

No.. look for recent news.. -- Longhairandabeard 03:24, 18 January 2007 (UTC)

hmm, the only other recent news i find is a hydrogel based treatment for cancer discovered by AIIMS and IIT Delhi. --ti 04:25, 18 January 2007 (UTC)

Yup, that's another link.. One more to go.. -- Longhairandabeard 04:53, 18 January 2007 (UTC)

hepatitis and dengue diagnostic kits have been developed by indian scientists to be exported abroad. so i would guess the link is low-cost medical treatment developed by indian scientists for tech transfer to other countries. or maybe the link is something else that can be simpler stated! --ti 05:27, 18 January 2007 (UTC)

Yup, you got it. -- Longhairandabeard 06:58, 18 January 2007 (UTC)

hmm, certainly a few red links to come from that question. next question in 3-4 hours. --ti 17:19, 18 January 2007 (UTC)

as an aside, did anyone else notice that google maps has streets and neighborhoods in big cities in india? --ti 17:51, 18 January 2007 (UTC)

Oh yes, and even many smaller cities are pretty well covered.--Dwaipayan (talk) 17:58, 18 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Q24

sorry for the delay! here goes:

A, a renowned social activist, wrote a book X. B set X in film, which won the inaugural edition of an award. B also penned a poem (whose name is similar-sounding to X), allegedly under the pseudonym of C. The poem largely meant to satirize the cultural impact C had while he ruled in India. Who are A, B, C and what is X? --ti 22:34, 18 January 2007 (UTC)

I think I got it. A = Sane Guruji, B = Prahlad Keshav Atre, C = Maulana Alauddin Khilji, X = Shyamchi Aai, which won the National Award for the best film of the year. -- Longhairandabeard 03:03, 19 January 2007 (UTC)

just as i wanted it! wrap it up LHAB! --ti 16:10, 19 January 2007 (UTC)

here is the poem Shyamale that Atre penned along with its translation [16].—Preceding unsigned comment added by Tejas81 (talk • contribs) 16:53, January 19, 2007

[edit] Q25

Great! Another easy one to wrap up this round. Connect a Mauryan king, an iron pillar and a threshold. -- Longhairandabeard 19:31, 19 January 2007 (UTC)

Chandragupta II, namesake of Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of Maurya Empire, is believed to have erected Iron pillar of Delhi, whose name probably was derived from the word Dilli, a corruption of 'dehali', which is Sanskrit for 'threshold' as Delhi has always been considered to be located at the threshold of India proper i.e., the Indo-Gangetic Plain.--Dwaipayan (talk) 19:42, 19 January 2007 (UTC)

You got one link right. Others are not specific enough. -- Longhairandabeard 20:31, 19 January 2007 (UTC)

Delhi is the capital of India. The pillars of Ashoka are also Indian capitals in the architectural sense of the word? --ti 21:27, 19 January 2007 (UTC)

Was the Dhar pillar built by the Mauryas? BTW, there is a third iron pillar at Kodachadri in Karnataka - see [17]. --ti 21:43, 19 January 2007 (UTC)

Interesting answer, but no.. not what I'm looking for.. A disclaimer, there are references for the Mauryan king on the Internet, but not very convincing ones. The king in question is not very well known and may not be Mauryan. -- Longhairandabeard 21:58, 19 January 2007 (UTC)

No more guesses? Here's another hint: These three are linked to three versions of something, and one version has already been mentioned above (won't remain much of a question if I tell which one).. -- Longhairandabeard 14:35, 20 January 2007 (UTC)

C'mon guys, it's not that difficult!! Do a Google search and you'll get it! -- Longhairandabeard 22:58, 20 January 2007 (UTC)

Hullooooo! Any body out there? I think it's time to bury this question. Dwaipayan gets the points for getting closest to the answer. The link is three versions of the origin of the name Delhi. One version is that mentioned by Dwaipayan, that Delhi is on the threshold of India proper. Another version links the name to King Dhillu who is said to be Mauryan in some sources. A third version relates to attempts by certain kings to "loosen" (Hindi word is "dheela") the Iron Pillar in Mehrauli. I am really surprised no one did this (and incidentally I did not mean to sound condescending with my comment above..) Congrats to ti for winning this round, and over to Dwaipayan for the next round! -- Longhairandabeard 05:51, 21 January 2007 (UTC)